Bitter melon for diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is a plant that can help you in multiple ways. Not only can it regulate the ability of your cells to respond to insulin and take up glucose from your bloodstream better, but it may also protect your pancreas from developing cancer. Research has shown that this bitter-tasting gourd vegetable, which is an edible plant in many Asian cultures, can help lower blood sugar in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Its official name is Momordica charantia.
Separate studies suggest that some natural ingredients in this plant also have anti-cancer properties against cancers of the pancreas (the organ that makes insulin and other digestive enzymes) as well as of the breast, colon, and prostate. People with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer, a particularly deadly form of this disease. Now there may be steps to take to lower this risk.
Various plants are nature's medicines, and we are only now rediscovering new ideas for treating diabetes, cancers, and other health problems with tools drawn from the older, established traditional wisdom of healers from earlier times. Bitter melon is one of those remarkable plants that can help.
This is a bitter tasting material, and taken in concentrated form, it can irritate the stomach, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. There are several different ways in which you might take bitter melon to minimize the GI problems. It comes in many forms, including juices and as a whole plant.
One important point is to use it with at least a full 8 ounce glass of water. Cooking it can help to an extent, but you may be able to find some herbal teas containing bitter melon mixed with other ingredients to hide the intense bitterness. Some teas include gymnema and/or cinnamon, other important anti-diabetic herbs, along with the bitter melon, natural flavorings and stevia sweetener. There are also capsules and liquid extracts that you could try.
As with any natural supplement or drug that lowers blood sugar, you could develop too low blood sugar levels if it works very well. People on anti-diabetic oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin are particular at risk of this type of event. A low blood sugar situation needs to be treated immediately by ingesting a fast-acting form of sugar to protect your brain from damage.
But, if you work with your doctor and check your blood sugar regularly (and whenever you suspect you are having symptoms of a low blood sugar, such as shakiness, anxiety, dizziness, sudden hunger and confusion), you can navigate your dosing of both your natural supplements like bitter melon and your prescription medications.
Cutting down on medications under medical supervision is a good thing to do, as most of the natural supplements have additional health promoting or supporting benefits, whereas many drugs just add side effect risks. Either way, talk with your own health care provider and make sure they know what you are doing. If you want additional supervision, find an integrative physician or naturopath in your area to help.
That's just the beginning of knowing how to choose the best herbs to take for diabetics, but it is a good start. Claim your simple 10-step natural supplements checklist and glycemic index food list for reversing diabetes at High Blood Sugar Solution. Visit http://CanDiabetesBeReversed.org today to claim your copy.
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